3. Abhidhamma Pitaka of Scholasticism-The seven books of the Abhidhamma Pitaka in the Pali canon are:

3.3 Kathavatthu (”Points of
Controversy”, or “Points of Controversy), a later work discussing the
controversial doctrinal points among the various ancient school

“Monks, there are these three topics for discussion. Which three?

“One may talk about the past, saying, ‘Thus it was in the past.’ One
may talk about the future, saying, ‘Thus it will be in the future.’ Or
one may talk about now in the present, saying, ‘Thus it is now in the
present.’

“Monks, it’s through his way of participating in a discussion that a
person can be known as fit to talk with or unfit to talk with. If a
person, when asked a question, doesn’t give a categorical answer to a
question deserving a categorical answer, doesn’t give an analytical
(qualified) answer to a question deserving an analytical answer,
doesn’t give a counter-question to a question deserving a
counter-question, doesn’t put aside a question deserving to be put
aside, then — that being the case — he is a person unfit to talk with.
But if a person, when asked a question, gives a categorical answer to a
question deserving a categorical answer, gives an analytical answer to
a question deserving an analytical answer, gives a counter-question to
a question deserving a counter-question, and puts aside a question
deserving to be put aside, then — that being the case — he is a person
fit to talk with.

“Monks, it’s through his way of participating in a discussion that a
person can be known as fit to talk with or unfit to talk with. If a
person, when asked a question, doesn’t stand by what is possible and
impossible, doesn’t stand by agreed-upon assumptions, doesn’t stand by
teachings known to be true,1
doesn’t stand by standard procedure, then — that being the case — he is
a person unfit to talk with. But if a person, when asked a question,
stands by what is possible and impossible, stands by agreed-upon
assumptions, stands by teachings known to be true, stands by standard
procedure, then — that being the case — he is a person fit to talk with.

“Monks, it’s through his way of participating in a discussion that a
person can be known as fit to talk with or unfit to talk with. If a
person, when asked a question, wanders from one thing to another, pulls
the discussion off the topic, shows anger & aversion and sulks,
then — that being the case — he is a person unfit to talk with. But if
a person, when asked a question, doesn’t wander from one thing to
another, doesn’t pull the discussion off the topic, doesn’t show anger
or aversion or sulk, then — that being the case — he is a person fit to
talk with.

“Monks, it’s through his way of participating in a discussion that a
person can be known as fit to talk with or unfit to talk with. If a
person, when asked a question, puts down [the questioner], crushes him,
ridicules him, grasps at his little mistakes, then — that being the
case — he is a person unfit to talk with. But if a person, when asked a
question, doesn’t put down [the questioner], doesn’t crush him, doesn’t
ridicule him, doesn’t grasp at his little mistakes, then — that being
the case — he is a person fit to talk with.

“Monks, it’s through his way of participating in a discussion that a
person can be known as drawing near or not drawing near. One who lends
ear draws near; one who doesn’t lend ear doesn’t draw near. Drawing
near, one clearly knows one quality, comprehends one quality, abandons
one quality, and realizes one quality.2
Clearly knowing one quality, comprehending one quality, abandoning one
quality, and realizing one quality, one touches right release. For
that’s the purpose of discussion, that’s the purpose of counsel, that’s
the purpose of drawing near, that’s the purpose of lending ear: i.e.,
the liberation of the mind through no clinging.

Those who discusswhen angered, dogmatic, arrogant,following what’s not the noble ones’ way,seeking to expose each other’s faults,delight in each other’s misspoken word,slip, stumble, defeat.Noble ones

don’t speak in that way.

If wise people, knowing the right time,want to speak,then, words connected with justice,following the ways of the noble ones:That’s what the enlightened ones speak,without anger or arrogance,with a mind not boiling over,without vehemence, without spite.Without envythey speak from right knowledge.They would delight in what’s well-saidand not disparage what’s not.They don’t study to find fault,don’t grasp at little mistakes.don’t put down, don’t crush,don’t speak random words.

For the purpose of knowledge,for the purpose of [inspiring] clear confidence,counsel that’s true:That’s how noble ones give counsel,That’s the noble ones’ counsel.Knowing this, the wiseshould give counsel without arrogance.”

Kathavatthu Sutta

Topics for Discussion

2. Buddha Discourses and Sermons, Sutta -

1.
Digha Nikaya (Collection of Long Discourses)

Kevatta (Kevaddha)
Sutta

To Kevatta

The Miracle of Instruction

“And what is the miracle of
instruction? There is the case where a monk gives instruction in this way:
‘Direct your thought in this way, don’t direct it in that. Attend to things in
this way, don’t attend to them in that. Let go of this, enter and remain in
that.’ This, Kevatta, is called the miracle of instruction.

“Furthermore, there is the case
where a Tathagata appears in the world, worthy and rightly self-awakened. He
teaches the Dhamma admirable in its beginning, admirable in its middle,
admirable in its end. He proclaims the holy life both in its particulars and in
its essence, entirely perfect, surpassingly pure.

“A householder or householder’s
son, hearing the Dhamma, gains conviction in the Tathagata and reflects: ‘Household life is confining, a dusty path. The life gone forth
is like the open air. It is not easy living at home to practice the holy life
totally perfect, totally pure, like a polished shell. What if
I were to shave off my hair and beard, put on the ochre robes, and go forth
from the household life into homelessness?’

“So after some time he abandons
his mass of wealth, large or small; leaves his circle of relatives, large or
small; shaves off his hair and beard, puts on the ochre robes, and goes forth
from the household life into homelessness.

“When he has thus gone forth, he
lives restrained by the rules of the monastic code, seeing danger in the slightest
faults. Consummate in his virtue, he guards the doors of his senses, is
possessed of mindfulness and alertness, and is content.

Sutta Pitaka

Maanakaamo Sutta

…the deva spoke this verse…:

Who has not tamed all vain conceits,1Who lacks in wisdom, uncontrolled,Heedless, in the woods may dwell alone,Yet will not escape the realm of death.

80 per cent of the arrears to be deposited in PF, 20 per cent will be payable in cash

Family pension, city compensatory allowance rates etc. to be as per Sixth Pay Commission.

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Government on Thursday decided to
implement the sixth Pay Commission recommendations starting from
January 1, 2006.

Cabinet meeting

In a cabinet meeting the government decided to accept the SAT Rizvi
Committee’s recommendations, set up to implement the Pay Commission
recommendations, UP Chief Minister Mayawati told newspersons here.

She said that it would benefit State government employees, including teachers of aided and technical institutions.

The employees would draw the first revised salary in the month of
December 2008, she said adding, 80 per cent of the arrears would be
deposited in the Provident Fund and 20 per cent would be payable in
cash.

Revised rates

The rates of family pension, group insurance, maternity benefits,
city compensatory allowance, ex gratia as well as time scale would be
as per the recommendations of the Central Pay Commission.

The Chief Minister said that to meet the additional burden on the
state exchequer due to the revision of pay scales, the Government has
decided to initiate some steps for generating additional revenues.

It would also be cutting down on unproductive expenditure, in this regard, she added. –PTI

Red alert sounded in U.P.

Special Correspondent

Security beefed up at public places across the State

LUCKNOW: A red alert has been issued in Uttar Pradesh in the
aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks. In a circular, Director-General
of Police Vikram Singh has asked district police chiefs to strengthen
security around bus stations, railway stations, airports and other
public places.

Directives have been issued for activating the intelligence network.
Dog squads are pressed into service at railway stations and bus
stations and a strict vigil is being maintained on all Mumbai-bound
trains.

Condemning the terrorist attacks, Chief Minister Mayawati on
Thursday said political parties must rise above party lines to tackle
terrorism.

Addressing a press conference here, Ms. Mayawati said the Centre
must take stringent steps to ensure that there was no recurrence of
terror attacks. Action against the accused should be taken on the basis
of solid evidence, divorced from caste and religious considerations.

Lesson 5

A Chinese proverb says: “If you are planning for a year, sow
rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a
lifetime, educate people”.

If a person, when asked a question, gives a categorical answer to a
question deserving a categorical answer, gives an analytical answer to
a question deserving an analytical answer, gives a counter-question to
a question deserving a counter-question, and puts aside a question
deserving to be put aside,
stands by what is possible and impossible, stands by agreed-upon
assumptions, stands by teachings known to be true, stands by standard
procedure,doesn’t wander from one thing to
another, doesn’t pull the discussion off the topic, doesn’t show anger
or aversion or sulk,doesn’t put down [the questioner], doesn’t crush him, doesn’t
ridicule him, doesn’t grasp at his little mistakes, then — that being the case — he is a person
fit to talk with.

It’s through his way of participating in a discussion that a
person can be known as drawing near or not drawing near. One who lends
ear draws near; one who doesn’t lend ear doesn’t draw near. Drawing
near, one clearly knows one quality, comprehends one quality, abandons
one quality, and realizes one quality.2
Clearly knowing one quality, comprehending one quality, abandoning one
quality, and realizing one quality, one touches right release. For
that’s the purpose of discussion, that’s the purpose of counsel, that’s
the purpose of drawing near, that’s the purpose of lending ear: i.e.,
the liberation of the mind through no clinging.